Hand-stamp.



Patefited Apr. 9, mos.

.1. c. .muuson.

HAND STAMP.

[Application filed July 6, 1900.

(No Model.)

m: mums ravens no momma. WASNINGTON. n, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN CALVIN JOHNSON, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

HAN D-STAM P.

STECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,648, dated April 9,1901.

Application filed July 6, 1900. Serial No. 22,706. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN CALVIN JOHNSON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-Sta1nps; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to printing devices manipulated by hand andsupplied with removable type to admit of any desired word or matterbeing printed on boxes, barrels, packages, and any object required to belabeled.

The stamp comprises a flexible bed of peculiar formation, removabletype, means for securing the type in place against accidentaldisplacement, and a bar connecting the ends of the bed when bowed andserving as a handle.

The invention also consists of the novel features, details ofconstruction, and combination of the parts, which hereinafter Will bemore fully disclosed and finally claimed; and for this purpose and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the merits of the invention and the structuraldetails of the means whereby the results are attained reference is tobehad to the appended description and the drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention arenecessarily susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodimentof the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a handstamp constructed in accordancewith this invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective View thereof, parts beingbroken away. Fig. 3 is a crossscction. Fig. 4: is a detail View of atype.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, the full lines show ing the bed straightenedout and the dotted lines the normal or bowed position of said bed.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The stamp is of the class designed for labeling packages and imprintingany desired matter upon a surface to be marked and comprises a bed andtype detachably fitted to said bed, the latter constitutinga support orholder for the type when selected and properly arranged. In the presentinstance the bed is flexible, so as to be flattened or straightened outto facilitate the removal and proper positioning of the type and also toenable the stamp to occupy a minimum amount of space when not requiredfor immediate use. The bed may be constructed of any stout sheetmaterial which will admit of its straightening and bowing as desired.The length and width of the bed and the number of typespaces will dependupon the required capacity and size of the stamp and will vary to meetvarious requirements. In its general construction the bed comprises arear plate 1, a series of strips 2, spaced from the rear plate and fromone another and longitudinally arranged in parallel relation, and endbars 3, located between the plate 1 and strips 2 to hold them apart therequired distance. Transverse strips 4 overlap the terminals of thelongitudinal strips 2, and screws or fastenings 5 connect the severalparts 1, 2, 3, and 4. The spaces formed between the longitudinal edgesof adjacent strips 2 receive the type 6, representing the matter to beprinted, and these spaces will vary according to the size of the type.Spacers connect the plate 1 and strips 2 intermediate of their ends, soas to preserve a uniform space between them, and these spacers consistof metal cleats 7, secured at one end to the plate 1 by solder or in anydesired manner and having the opposite end portion slit for a shortdistance to provide tongues 8 and 9, which are bent at a right angle tothe body of the cleats and underlap and overlap the longitudinal strips2, so as to hold them against either inward or out ward displacement.The tongues 8 bear against theouter side of the strips 2, whereas thetongues 9 engage with and bear against the inner side. The outermostspacers engage with the marginal or edge portions of the strips 2,whereas the intermediate spacer has its outer tongue passing through anopening 10 in the intermediate strip 2. The number of spacers willdepend upon the length of the stamp, and in the event of said stampbeing comparatively short the spacers may be omitted; but forcomparatively long stamps the spacers are essential in order to preventthe separation of the strips and rear plate and the displacement of thetype held in place thereby.

The type 6 are flat and are provided at opposi te ends withoutwardly-extending flanges 11, which are adapted to enter the spaceformed between the plate 1 and strips 2, the latter overlapping theflanges 11 and holding the type against outward displacement. The typeare placed in position and removed by a sliding movement in thetype-spaces, the strips 2being cut away at one end,. as shown at 12, adistance equal to the Width of a flange 11, so as to admit of the readyinsertion and removal of a type when positioned opposite the enlargedspace provided by the cut away portions 12 of the longitudinal strips.The letters or characters are separated by spaces which are constructedin a similar manner to the body of the type and are placed in positionin a like way. After the matter to be printed has been placed inposition and the type-spaces are nearly filled the key 13 is thrustendwise into the space formed between the plate 1 and strips 2 and fillsthe space formed between an end bar 3 and the adjacent type, therebypreventing movement of the type toward the enlarged portion of thetype-spaces, through which the type are removed and placed in position.For convenience when assembling or removing the type the bed isstraightened, the flexibility of the bed admitting of this result.

Cleats 14: are secured transversely to the terminal portions of the bed,preferably by the same fastenings 5, and serve to stiffen and strengthenthe stamp and to form convenient means of attachment thereto of thehandle-bar 15. Irons 16, of approximately U form, are fitted to the endportions'of the cleats 14 and confine rods which are insertible by anendwise movement into spaces formed be tween said irons and the cleats14, and which spaces are formed by cutting away the inner upper cornersof the said cleats. Strap-irons are secured to the ends of thehandle-bar 15, the iron 18 being doubled upon itself and embracingopposite sides of the handle-bar and receiving one of the rods 14 in itsfold, thereby constituting a hinge member whereby the handle-bar ishingedly connected to an end portion of the bed. The opposite iron issecured to the handle-bar in a similar manner to the iron 18, and itsfolded end portion is bent to provide a book 19 to engage with the rod17 remote from that receiving the hingeiron 18. The hook iron or member19 is adapted tomake detachable connection with the rod 17 with which itcooperates, so as to admit of the bed being flattened or straightenedout when desired.

When itis required to remove the type previously fitted to the bed, thekey 13 is drawn out from one side or the other of the bed, so as toclear the enlarged portion of the type-spaces, thereby admitting of thetype being moved so as to register with the enlarged part of thetype-spaces, from which they are removed by lifting, as will be readilyunderstood. The word or matter to be printed is set up by placing onetype in position at a time, and after the matter is in place the key 13is slipped into place to hold the type from casual displacement. Thestamp is inked by rocking it upon a suitably-inked pad or surface, andthe printing is effected by rocking the stamp on the surface required toreceive the label or matter to be imprinted thereon.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is 1. In ahand-stamp comprising a flexible bed adapted to be straightened out andformed into a bow, means for holding the bed when bowed, and typeremovably fitted to the bed, substantially as described.

2. A hand-stamp comprising aflexible bed capable of being straightenedout and formed into a bow, type removably fitted to the said bed, and abar adapted to connect the end portions of the bed when bowed andconstituting a handle by means of which the stamp is manipulated,substantially as specified.

3. A hand-stamp comprising a flexible bed provided with type, and a barhingedly connected at one end to the said bed and provided at itsopposite end with a hook to make detachable connection with thecorresponding rod of the said bed, substantially as set forth.

4. In a hand-stamp, a flexible bed, transverse cleats secured to theterminal portions of the said bed, rods attached to the said cleats, anda barhingedly mounted upon one of the said rods and adapted to makedetachable connection with the other rod, substantially as set forth.

5. In ahand-stamp, a plate, a series of strips spaced from the plate andfrom one another to form type-spaces, said strips having cor respondingedge portions cut away to enlarge the type-spaces, means for connectingthe plate and strips, type removably fitted in the type-s aces throughthe enlarged part thereof, an a key for holding the type in place whenin position, substantially as set forth.

6. In a hand-stamp, a plate, strips spaced from the plate and from oneanother to form type-spaces, means for connecting the plate and strips,and spacers interposed between the plate and strips comprising cleatshaving tongues at one end arranged to underlap and overlap one of theparts to which they are fitted, substantially as set forth.

'7. In a hand stamp, a plate, and strips spaced apart, bars placedbetween the plate and strips, other strips overlapping the longitudinalstrips, and means connecting the several strips, bars and plate,substantially as set forth.

8. The herein-described hand-stamp comprising a flexible bed composed ofa plate and and a handle-bar having hinge connection at one end with aterminal cleat and constructed to make detachable connection at itsopposite I 5 end with the other terminal cleat, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN CALVIN JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

H. M. SUTTON, W. A. JOHNSON.

